Yesterday I treated mum to a spa day at Whittlebury Hall. Whilst I have been a few times before, mum had never been, and it was nice to finally be able to treat her.

We were both ready for a day of rest and relaxation, and what better way to unwind than in the beautiful grounds of Whittlebury Hall.

Things got off to a slightly disappointing start.

There was an incredibly tetchy lady on reception when we arrived who seemed to find it a complete inconvenience when we kindly enquired as to whether we could move our lunch time from 2pm to 1pm. This idea seemed completely absurd to her, and in the end, it was easier to keep lunch at 2pm rather than to create a scene.

Thankfully, that was the only negative to the spa day.

The facilities at Whittlebury are beautiful. Everything is immaculate but not pretentious, which is refreshing.

Mum, who often feels quite self-conscious parading around the poolside on holiday in her swimming costume, felt completely at ease at Whittlebury and found the whole experience quite liberating.

We opted for the Autumn Rewind Spa Day for Two package (£99 for two), which included full use of The Leisure Club, full use of the Heat and Ice Experience, a Two Course Buffet Lunch, and an inclusive 25 minute treatment.

Towels and dressing gowns are provided on arrival, and fresh, warm towels if needed throughout the day can be sought from reception for no added fee.

We both opted for the ESPA  Soothing Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage for our 25 minute treatment. Mum loved it, and said it was just what she needed after a busy few weeks. Whilst I enjoyed my massage, the Deep Tissue Elemis Back Massage I had on a previous visit, will take some beating (the knots in my back are so big I think the only way to tackle them is to go deep!).

The Heat and Ice Experience also takes some beating. With a hydrotherapy pool, an aromatherapy crystal steam room, experience showers & foot spas, a caldarium, an ice cave, a samarium, a tepidarium, and a traditional sauna, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

At Whittlebury.com they suggest a bathing plan to get the best out of the heat and ice experience, however, it is just as enjoyable without using the plan.

The buffet lunch is lovely, and whilst there are plenty of healthy options, there are a wide variety of dishes for everyone to enjoy. Whilst we tucked into chicken with rice and vegetables, there were vegetarian alternatives, cold meats, jacket potatoes and salad for those wishing to have a lighter bite. The tomato soup for starter is also worth a special mention. I rarely opt for soup as a starter, but it was so delicious, I could’ve eaten a whole load more than I did. There was complimentary water with lunch, however, for those who fancy something a little more exotic, there are cocktails, wine, beers and hot beverages to chose from for an additional cost.

After a late lunch we got changed and headed for home.

I would highly recommend a trip to Whittlebury Hall. Whilst we only experienced the facilities available for the day spa package, there are other things to enjoy within Whittlebury Park. In addition to the spa facilities, there is a hotel, restaurants, conference facilities, and a golf course. On top of that it is a great venue for weddings, and the hall is also popular with partygoers who visit for the vast array of party nights the venue has to offer.

I would also recommend visiting the spa on a weekday. There are far fewer people there during the week compared to weekends, meaning that accessing the facilities is a lot easier. We rarely shared the sauna and steam room with anyone else throughout the day, which also meant we could have a good old natter as well as relax.

By the time we reached home, we felt rested and cleansed…at least we did until we realised we were locked out of the house…at least we were relaxed enough not to mind too much!